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Throwback Thursday

The Arizona Commission on Judicial Conduct publicly reprimanded a judge for failing to comply with legal requirements in advising defendants of their constitutional rights. Quezada, Order (Arizona Commission on Judicial Conduct December 12, 2013).

The Arizona Commission on Judicial Conduct publicly reprimanded a judge for calling the victim in a domestic violence case an idiot and negatively characterizing her motivations. Conn, Order (Arizona Commission on Judicial Conduct December 13, 2013).

The Arizona Commission on Judicial Conduct publicly reprimanded a court commissioner for, at a hearing on extension of a protective order, summarily rejecting an attorney’s attempt to appear for the defendant; failing to be patient, dignified, or courteous with the litigants; and making substantive modifications to the order without providing the parties with notice. Newell, Order (Arizona Commission on Judicial Conduct December 11, 2013).

Based on a stipulation and agreement, the California Commission on Judicial Performance publicly censured a former judge and barred him from seeking or holding judicial office for (1) while an attorney, breaching his fiduciary duty toward 2 elderly clients and, after becoming a judge, committing theft from an elder; (2) failing to disclose on his statements of economic interests a $250,000 personal loan from his elderly client, investments, and income he received from those investments; (3) making a false statement about the purchase price of a car on an application for title or registration; and (4) causing court personnel to access registration records to obtain information about vehicle license plates for a purpose unrelated to his judicial duties. In the Matter of Seeman, Decision and order (California Commission on Judicial Performance December 16, 2013).

Based on an agreed statement of facts and joint recommendation, the Mississippi Supreme Court publicly reprimanded a judge and fined him $2,500 for abusing his contempt powers, failing to recuse himself from contempt proceedings, and preventing those he charged with contempt from presenting any defense. Commission on Judicial Performance v. Harris, 131 So. 3d 1137 (Mississippi 2013).

Sustaining the determination of the State Commission on Judicial Conduct, the New York Court of Appeals removed a non-lawyer judge from office for (1) failing to disqualify from a case against a defendant whose family he had a professional and social relationship with; ex parte communications with the defendant; and dismissing the charge without notice to the prosecution; and (2) engaging in ex parte communications with a prospective litigant in a small claims matter. In the Matter of George, 3 N.E.3d 1139 (New York 2013).

Accepting an agreed statement of facts, the New York State Commission on Judicial Conduct publicly admonished a non-lawyer judge for, during an arraignment on charges arising out of a domestic dispute, failing to advise a defendant of his right to assigned counsel, making statements that appeared to prejudge the case, and threatening to have the alleged victim’s children taken from her home because she did not want to pursue the criminal charges. In the Matter of Prince, Determination (New York State Commission on Judicial Conduct December 18, 2013).

Accepting an agreed statement of facts and joint recommendation, the New York State Commission on Judicial Conduct publicly censured a judge for operating his automobile while under the influence of alcohol, causing an accident, and being uncooperative with police during his arrest. In the Matter of Newman, Determination (York State Commission on Judicial Conduct December 18, 2013).

Accepting an agreed statement of facts and joint recommendation, the New York State Commission on Judicial Conduct publicly censured a judge for, on numerous occasions, asking and/or causing her court staff to perform non-work-related personal tasks for her and to participate in activities associated with her religion or church. In the Matter of Brigantii-Hughes, Determination (New York State Commission on Judicial Conduct December 17, 2013).

Pursuant to the judge’s agreement, the Tennessee Board of Judicial Conduct publicly reprimanded a judge for dismissing a relative’s traffic citation. Re Kittrell(Tennessee Board of Judicial Conduct December 19, 2013).